United States President Donald Trump has threatened to take military action against Nigeria, accusing the government of failing to stop what he described as the ongoing killing of Christians.
In a post on social media, Trump said he had ordered the US Department of War to prepare for “possible action” and warned that Washington would halt all forms of assistance to Nigeria if the violence continued.
He stated that the US might “go in guns blazing” to eliminate those responsible for what he called “horrible atrocities” against Christians. However, he did not specify the groups or incidents he was referring to.
Trump’s comments came shortly after he placed Nigeria on the list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” a US government category for nations accused of allowing religious persecution.
Nigeria, a nation of more than 200 million people, is almost evenly split between a Muslim-majority north and a Christian-majority south. The country has struggled for years with attacks by armed groups such as Boko Haram and bandits who target both Muslims and Christians in different parts of the country.
Security analysts and humanitarian experts have rejected claims of a so-called “Christian genocide,” saying that the violence in Nigeria is driven more by local conflicts, poverty, and terrorism than by religious persecution.
According to conflict analyst Bulama Bukarti, there is no evidence of systematic targeting of Christians. He explained that armed groups attack anyone, regardless of faith, bombing markets, churches, and mosques alike.
Other international experts have also advised the United States to cooperate with the Nigerian government instead of threatening invasion, arguing that military intervention would worsen instability rather than solve it.
In response to Trump’s remarks, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirmed that his government is committed to protecting citizens of all faiths. He dismissed claims of religious intolerance, stating that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion for everyone.
“The idea that Nigeria encourages religious persecution is completely false,” Tinubu said, adding that his administration remains open to working with the United States and other partners to promote peace and understanding among all communities.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement emphasizing that the government protects all citizens regardless of their religion, describing the nation’s diversity as a source of strength rather than division.
Despite Trump’s threats, Nigeria has maintained that it continues to address insecurity across the country and will not allow external pressure to distort its national image.